Residents of a storm-ravaged Aberdeenshire community could take matters into their own hands with a ground-breaking project to protect the village from future floods.
The Ballater Flood Group is hoping to launch a £1.5million fundraising drive to invest in defences along the River Dee for the village – fearing any Aberdeenshire Council measures may not be in place until it is too late.
Members of the Deeside group funded their own independent hydrology assessment of the river which concluded Ballater could be at risk during the “next autumnal spate”.
Now they are seeking the backing of the Scottish Government through a public private partnership or private finance initiative to put in place “first phase protection” as soon as possible.
More than 300 homes and 60 businesses were flooded in Ballater after the Dee burst its banks at the neighbouring golf course, sending 4ft of water tearing through the streets of the village.
Since then, the floods of December 30, which arrived in the wake of Storm Frank, have been labelled the worst to hit Deeside since the Muckle Spate of 1829.
The December 30 flood has been identified as a one-in-500-year event. But if the community gets behind the plans, and the money is raised, the group will apply for planning permission for the defences through the council.
Coordinator of the group, Tony Cox, said: “We are talking about applying as a community for planning permission to do what needs to be done. It is a perfectly reasonable option.”
The proposed defences include limited clearance to restore the river and a levee running from Sluivannachie, near the breach point on the golf course, to Ballater’s Royal Bridge.
Possible “flow routes” on either side of the bridge have also been suggested.
Retired businessman Mr Cox, 69, added the cost “compared to the cost of another flood is not too bad”.
He said: “There are a huge amount of people in this community that have been totally devastated by what has happened. People who are uninsured who have lost everything apart from the clothes they wear.
“We’re focused on the immediate threat as voiced by the community and doing something about it.
“We have a very limited window of opportunity to do something. Our responsibility is to Ballater.”
PFIs and PPPs are projects for which the Scottish Government provides funding or part-funding.
The Ballater Flood Group has claimed it could be the first initiative of its kind if it gains support.
The flood protection measures are being proposed following advice from the hydrologist.
The group will be taking on board the opinions of other experts and local residents, and is holding a public meeting on the proposals in the coming weeks.
The results of the hydrology survey concluded there was a peak flow of 1,368 cubic metres per second on the Dee on December 30 – higher than any recorded in recent times.
Ballater flood victim and fellow group member, Gordon Riddler, said: “We are now in a place where someone has given us basis for our concern.
“The council are constrained by policy, and constrained by funding. Providing we get support and planning, subject to a planning application – and the concept is agreed by the community – we can raise the funds.
“Stonehaven flooded twice before they actually put in protection. People are interested to know what is going to happen.”
The council’s director of infrastructure services, Stephen Archer, said the local authority “want to offer any support we can to communities keen to help themselves”.
He added: “Introducing flood protection measures anywhere is a complex and sometimes lengthy process which is set out in law and takes a huge range of factors into account, as we know from recent experience in Huntly and Stonehaven.
“The council is bringing forward a Ballater flood protection study to alleviate local concerns, but we will, of course, be happy to discuss any way we can all work together.”
